Polo Ralph Lauren

The GOP approach of cutting taxes and slashing expenses has its attractions: Nobody likes paying taxes, and "tightening our belts" sounds ever so grown up. But these proposed cuts in taxes and spending will benefit the wealthy, while placing an outsized burden on the country's poor and middle class.

On Memorial Day weekend, retailers pull out all the stops to move fresh merchandise, and if you play your cards right, you can get some great deals. But even though it's the semi-official start of summer, you'll want to do your homework first. (Don't worry, you can cheat off of DailyFinance's personal finance columnist, Regina Lewis.)

Americans' zest for a bargain has an economic downside: It creates a giant opportunity for the scads of shady operators -- especially from China -- that specialize in pumping out counterfeit versions of the real thing. From footwear to toys, here are the 10 most counterfeited goods in the U.S.

Recognizing that even the well-heeled have money problems these days and trying to expand their customer base, many luxury-goods sellers now have something for (almost) everyone. Here's a rundown of some less-pricey goodies you can get at the toniest shops in town.

Luxury retailers tend to be early cycle stocks: They move in advance of other sectors. Shares in Tiffany, Coach and Polo Ralph Lauren have been been crushing the broader market for a while. But will they continue? Do their stocks make good buys? Watch Face-Off.

The recession hardly made a dent in Polo Ralph Lauren's upward sales progress, so it should have tremendous leverage in advancing in the economic recovery that's increasingly gaining traction. The shares hit a 52-week high on April 14.